Bob Cooney

Like the teams in the upcoming NCAA Tournament, it could be one and done for Andrew Bynum as a 76er.

The Sixers announced at halftime of its game against the Portland Trail Blazers that the 7-foot, 300-pound Bynum will have surgery on Tuesday, thus ending one of the most frustrating situations in the team’s history. Bynum will undergo arthroscopic surgery on both knees.

“After many months of rehabilitation and consulting with numerous doctors, Andrew and the doctors treating him determined that this is the best course of action at this point,” said Sixers general manager Tony DiLeo. “We will continue to monitor and evaluate his status moving forward.”

How the Sixers will move forward will be the biggest question surrounding this organization in quite some time. DiLeo has said repeatedly during the season that Bynum was “Plan A” and that was the plan they were looking to move forward with.

Bynum, who made $16.5 million this season, was obtained during a four-team trade in August that cost the Sixers Andre Iguodala, Nikola Vucevic, Maurice Harkless and a protected first-round draft pick. In mid-September Bynum hurt his right knee while working out to get ready for training camp. It was announced the day before training camp that he would be out for about three weeks but could be ready for opening night.

As that injury lingered, it then came out that Bynum hurt the left knee while bowling in mid-November. While he said his right knee was feeling better, the left was slow to respond following the bowling incident. After upping his workouts to a more strenuous schedule, Bynum attempted to play 5-on-5 during a practice. The stint lasted just a few minutes and a week later it was revealed that Bynum’s right knee was again hurting. And now comes word of the surgery.

Hopes were high for the organization after it obtained Bynum, who averaged career-highs in points (18.7) and rebounds (11.8) last season with the Los Angeles Lakers. Hopes have faded to disappointing reality as Bynum will not see the court this season. Whether the team is willing to take another chance on him and hope to sign the free agent in the offseason will no doubt be a heavy topic this offseason.